Sharon Laws wins national road race title

Sharon Laws won her first senior British national road race title in Ampleforth on Sunday morning, just three days after being left out of the Olympic team.

Laws spent virtually the entire race in the lead, firstly with three other riders then hitting out alone with around 16 miles to go. Soloing to the win was the perfect response to the Olympic non-selection, although she’s still been left with a bitter taste in her mouth.

“I don’t think this is adequate consolation, but it will certainly help,” the AA Drink-leontin.nl rider said. “It was my big dream, I really wanted to go.”

Laws, who was third last year, escaped on the first ascent of Yearley Moor with teammates Emma Pooley and Lizzie Armitstead, and Nikki Harris. The small group slowly built up a considerable lead as Sarah Storey chased alone behind them.

Ten time winner Nicole Cooke missed the move but instigated a chase at around the halfway mark. Cooke, who has only won two races this year, was pragmatic after one of her worst results in the nationals since she won it as a 16 year old in 1999, saying that what matters is peaking for the Olympics in four weeks’ time.

The rest of the riders came in to the finish in small group as the rolling circuit took its toll.

Katie Colclough (Specialized-Lululemon) took the women’s under-23 national title.

You blokes above haven’t got a clue. Nicole rode a very intelligent race – granted that she didn’t make the original split. No point in battering away only to be worked over by the – possibly illegal – combine at the front. Much better to wait and at least take part in a meaningful sprint at the end, arguably the best prepeartion for the Olympics. You’ll all be eating humble pie in a months time.

Ken Evans

6. Nicole Cooke (Team Faren Honda) at 9-02

Not winning is one thing,
being dropped for NINE MINUTES,
is something else entirely.

It doesn’t look like she is in the form to win the Olympic road race,
which takes place on the 29th of July.